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Dr. Jolanda Westerhof Named Next Principia College President

November 27, 2017

Principia is pleased to announce Dr. Jolanda Westerhof (US’77, C’82) as the next President of Principia College. Dr. Westerhof, known as “Jo” (pronounced “Yo”), is currently Associate Vice President for the Academic Leadership and Change Division at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities in Washington, DC.

“I am highly enthusiastic about the leadership qualities Jo Westerhof is bringing to Principia College,” Chief Executive Marshall Ingwerson (C’79) says. “She speaks with a clear and honest voice, works in a highly collaborative way, and has a deeply inclusive sensibility. Jo brings a long connection with Principia in many roles and a wide academic and professional experience in higher education. She has the background to build on the impressive progress made at the College under the leadership of President Jonathan Palmer over the past decade. Most of all, I appreciate her deep idealism about Principia’s purpose and potential.”

After graduating from Principia with a BA in history and education, Dr. Westerhof earned a master’s degree in international affairs from Washington University in St. Louis in 1992 and a PhD in curriculum and instruction from Indiana University in 2002. Her dissertation was titled “Evolving Forms of Democratic Practice in Education.”

After teaching at Principia College for five years, Dr. Westerhof was a professor at Grand Valley State University in Michigan for more than a decade, earning tenure in 2004. In 2005, she received a Fulbright lecture/research scholarship at the Centre for Research and Training in Human Rights and Democratic Citizenship at the University of Zagreb, Croatia.

“The top-notch undergraduate education I received at the College has been on my gratitude list for decades,” Dr. Westerhof notes. “I am honored to lead the College, and I look forward to working with students, staff, faculty, and administration as we explore Principia’s vision and purpose for educating the next generation of world citizens—with Christian Science as a foundation.”

Throughout the search process, Principia worked with Witt/Kieffer, an executive search firm with deep experience in higher education, for search-process management and to ensure compliance with best practices. A group of 90 individuals, including 27 nominations from Principia community members, were identified for personal outreach by Witt/Kieffer. Fifteen applications were received, and two finalists were invited for two-day visits, which included open forums and were followed by opportunities for community members to provide feedback on each finalist.

“Although Dr. Westerhof continues to serve in her current position,” Ingwerson notes, “we hope to involve her as much as practical over coming months in campus planning and discussions to aid the transition.” She will assume the post full time on July 1, 2018.